'11,'12 Pros need running board help!

gman086 · Mar 15, 2012

Last year we had nice light snow so it wasn't a big deal to kick the boards and be good. This year... not so much. Heavy wet snow all season has had me falling off the sled, the stock boards pack up so badly! Would love to get Airframes but my measly income these dayz won't allow it. What's the cheapest fix? New 2013 boards? Anyone retrofit them yet to theirs or are the kits not out yet?

Have FUN!

G MAN

gcmci · Mar 15, 2012

Feethookers better then betterboards.Just search for him

06redrevx · Mar 15, 2012

I too am waiting to see how well the 13 boards work out. I'm guessing there will be quite a few available with people switching to airframes, etc. and the new Burandt boards.

TGitt · Mar 15, 2012

After looking at the 13s, I don't see why they wouldn't work on the 11 and 12s. Looks like you'll be able to install them just like the air frames. Cut old ones off. Rivet new ones on. I still am a little bummed they didn't address the weakness where it hooks to the frame in the footwell. Attatchs exactly like the 11/12s, and I've broke two. But the boards feel stronger and don't flex when you stand on it so I hope that will help.

skibreeze · Mar 15, 2012

Forget Better Boards. Forget FeetHookers. Forget Airframes. By far the cheapest and an awesome insert is made by Madsigntist here on the forum. They are called MadFab ez boards. This is coming from a guy that has installed Betterboards on several of my sleds and put Airframes on my '12.

I love the fact that they are cheap, don't require any cutting and work awesome! I would have never guessed that they worked so well until riding with a buddy that got one of the first sets to use.

gman086 · Mar 15, 2012

skibreeze said:
Forget Better Boards. Forget FeetHookers. Forget Airframes. By far the cheapest and an awesome insert is made by Madsigntist here on the forum. They are called MadFab ez boards. This is coming from a guy that has installed Betterboards on several of my sleds and put Airframes on my '12.

I love the fact that they are cheap, don't require any cutting and work awesome! I would have never guessed that they worked so well until riding with a buddy that got one of the first sets to use.

So they're just a plastic insert/overlay of the current boards and work because snow doesn't stick to them and falls thru the holes? I'm skeptical but... I do LOVE my gauge lifter from Matt so I'll try to keep an open mind! Cascade concrete is a beeyatch to keep clear tho and those stock outer grips are slicing the crap outta my boots!

Have FUN!

G

B00nd0ck3r4lif · Mar 15, 2012

The Cat guys on the M forums have been raving about Fastlane plastic running boards for quite a while. I picked up an 07 M8 and put them on and they are the best running board upgrade for the price I have found. I have used snow eliminators, BBs, and I have airframes on my Pro of course

.

Honestly the only difference in airframes and Fastlane plastic boards is the airframes are insanely strong. Both require absolutely zero effort to keep snow off. The best part is they started making them for the Pro chassis!

linky

http://flaneinc.com/catalog/product...d=119&osCsid=76af6ac94a0051d6b1e7a5186fdb3c0e

B00nd0ck3r4lif · Mar 16, 2012

gman086 said:
those stock outer grips are slicing the crap outta my boots!

Have FUN!

G

Take a file to those outer edge tabs so they are flat on the top as opposed to having that damn knife edge, it helped reduce the wear on my boots.

ReTodd · Mar 16, 2012

I really like the extra width of the diamond S boards....the paint however is a joke and the price is a bit high. I assume the new Polaris boards are the same width as stock? If so, no thanks.

Rt

gman086 · Mar 16, 2012

B00nd0ck3r4lif said:
The Cat guys on the M forums have been raving about Fastlane plastic running boards for quite a while. I picked up an 07 M8 and put them on and they are the best running board upgrade for the price I have found. I have used snow eliminators, BBs, and I have airframes on my Pro of course .

Honestly the only difference in airframes and Fastlane plastic boards is the airframes are insanely strong. Both require absolutely zero effort to keep snow off. The best part is they started making them for the Pro chassis!

linky

http://flaneinc.com/catalog/product...d=119&osCsid=76af6ac94a0051d6b1e7a5186fdb3c0e

So, from the pic, are they like Better Boards with a plastic insert?

Thanks,

G

skibreeze · Mar 16, 2012

Yes, they are drop in inserts. They look awesome and also he can include side vinyl tokeep snow from sticking to the sides as well. I wish that he had made these last year, it would have saved me several hundred bucks on BB's and Airframes.

rotax · Mar 16, 2012

gman086 said:
....those stock outer grips are slicing the crap outta my boots!
G

I filed my outer grips down the 2nd day after realizing how hard on boots they are.

The alum files very easily. Takes ~30 mins. I removed about 1/2 - 1/3 of the material. Mainly removing the tall sharp edges.
Boot soles will last much longer and I still don't have traction issues w/ my Klim Adrenaline boots either..

Also looking for a economical solution to the boards however..

Xcelerated performance · Mar 17, 2012

Feethookers have the be the best board out there for the money. very good price and they work really well

FCR112 · Mar 17, 2012

The hd better boards are one heck of an improvement over the mess posted on the stock boards in that photo. And they actually strengthen the footwell area as well. And Yes, yes I do have a set in the swapmeet. I think there are a lot of companies out there trying to improve upon the original great idea.

modsledr · Mar 17, 2012

gman086 said:
.......Cascade concrete is a beeyatch to keep clear tho and those stock outer grips are slicing the crap outta my boots!

B00nd0ck3r4lif said:
....it helped reduce the wear on my boots.

rotax said:
I filed my outer grips down the 2nd day after realizing how hard on boots they are.....Boot soles will last much longer and I still don't have traction issues w/ my Klim Adrenaline boots either......

I have to ask...are all of you saying that the soles of your boots are wearing out and leaking before the tops?

I know the boards slice things up...but in my experience, it has always just been cosmetic, and I dont really care what the soles of my boots look like.

Not being a smarta$$...serious question.

AKSNOWRIDER · Mar 17, 2012

I made my own inserts this summer from UHMW..they work darn good, (better then both the feethookers and the BB's I have had)..but they will collect alittle snow still..but nothing like the other inserts....

FCR112 · Mar 17, 2012

modsledr said:
I have to ask...are all of you saying that the soles of your boots are wearing out and leaking before the tops?

I know the boards slice things up...but in my experience, it has always just been cosmetic, and I dont really care what the soles of my boots look like.

Not being a smarta$$...serious question.

I wish the boards had the sharp nubs everywhwere including up the angle that meets the tunnel, that grip is worth shredding soles to me.

Also, am I the only one that bent the stock rail edges quickly? The added snow removal is huge, but so is some added strength for me. Heavy Duty Better Boards add that strength along with some of the other options. We will see how the 2013 stuff works, should be much better.

I really wonder how much the plastic style inserts on top of the stock boards are strengthening the rail edges when compared to the thicker metal products available.

IMO there is more to fixing the board issue than just snow removal, it should also include added strength to the footwell and rail.

AKSNOWRIDER · Mar 18, 2012

FCR..the UHMW I used..actually did strengthen my boards..it is pretty much the strongest of the plastics..havent found but 1 glue that works with it(it is a special adhesive tape that 1 manufacturer installs on its type of uhmw..)but it did stiffenen mine enough to be noticable (I have to add that I did my tunnel reinforcements first and they stiffened the boards alot(stopped the boards from flexing the tunnel sides when they flex)..but once installed a few weeks later, the uhmw did make a noticable difference as well..)

06redrevx · Mar 18, 2012

AKSNOWRIDER said:
FCR..the UHMW I used..actually did strengthen my boards..it is pretty much the strongest of the plastics..havent found but 1 glue that works with it(it is a special adhesive tape that 1 manufacturer installs on its type of uhmw..)but it did stiffenen mine enough to be noticable (I have to add that I did my tunnel reinforcements first and they stiffened the boards alot(stopped the boards from flexing the tunnel sides when they flex)..but once installed a few weeks later, the uhmw did make a noticable difference as well..)

Good job on those! Where do you purchase the UHMW? Did you just use adhesive or did you rivit also? What wrap did you use on the tunnel?

gman086 · Mar 18, 2012

modsledr said:
I have to ask...are all of you saying that the soles of your boots are wearing out and leaking before the tops?

I know the boards slice things up...but in my experience, it has always just been cosmetic, and I dont really care what the soles of my boots look like.

Not being a smarta$$...serious question.

Yes, when you're kicking at the boards every five minutes you slice the bottoms up enough to have leaking issues. Last season I wasted a nice pair of HMK's. Luckily for me, they are local based (Hood River) and gave me a great deal on a new pair. I don't want to have to go thru that every season! The 2013 boards look a lot like the Doo grips - not blades but cast ridges which don't slice up boots nor $200 snow pants!

Have FUN!

G MAN

PS - Leaning heavily towards the plastic inserts so far!

'11,'12 Pros need running board help!

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